Sure, Rich Rodriguez wishes his team were healthier, and a little more depth - the experienced kind - would go a long way on defense.

But three weeks and three wins into his second season as Michigan coach, Rodriguez is cautiously optimistic about what lies ahead.

“We’re all happy to be where we’re at record wise, but there’s going to be a lot of adversity still to come,” Rodriguez said. “We got to just get our guys to remind themselves, even though maybe a few more people might be patting you on the back right now, we got a lot of work to do to be a very good football team.”

Good, bad or in between, Michigan is 3-0 right now - one of five unbeaten teams in the Big Ten - and a victory away from surpassing last season’s squalid win total.

The Wolverines open Big Ten play today against fellow unbeaten Indiana, and cornerback Donovan Warren said Michigan is doing so with a chip on its shoulder.

“I feel like people don’t really respect us all the way, like we’re a top contender for the Big Ten title,” Warren said. “I feel like we’re right up there with some of the best. We just got to continue to improve and show people that we are.”

Two weeks ago, Michigan opened some eyes with a late touchdown drive and last-minute upset of Notre Dame.

The Wolverines followed that with a convincing win against Mid-American Conference cellar-dweller Eastern Michigan last week, but are dealing with some significant injuries today.

Starting center David Molk will miss the next month with a broken foot, safety Mike Williams is doubtful with a sprained ankle, and running back Brandon Minor continues to be hobbled by a high ankle sprain he suffered in the preseason.

Still, the 23rd-ranked Wolverines should have enough firepower to survive an Indiana team that’s lost 15 straight to Michigan and hasn’t won in Ann Arbor since 1967.

This year, the Hoosiers barely survived Eastern Kentucky in their opener and squeaked by a Western Michigan team, 23-19, that Michigan manhandled a week earlier.

Rodriguez said Indiana’s pistol offense presents a challenge for his defensive that allowed 333 rushing yards the last two weeks. The Hoosiers also have two of the best defensive ends in conference in Greg Middleton and Jammie Kirlew.

But Michigan’s biggest barrier to 4-0 might be looking ahead to next week’s showdown with rival Michigan State, its first road game of the year and a true test of where the Wolverines stand.

“I’d like to get to the point where we can play poorly and win. We’re not there yet,” Rodriguez said. “We’re playing hard and they’re playing with passion, but we’ve got to get better and play well if we want to win or have any chance of winning Big Ten games.”

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.